Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian CONTRIBUTED PHOTOSEN. Sherwin Gatchalian deplored the imposition of tax increases on private educational institutions at a time when they are struggling to stay afloat amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Revenue Regulation 5-2021 issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), however, has imposed a condition that a proprietary educational institution should be non-profit before it can avail of the reduced rate, the lawmaker stressed. He said that this should prompt the Senate to exercise its oversight powers because private schools will now have to pay higher instead of lower rates. "I propose further amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) to protect private schools from the potential consequences of this policy such as school closures, more job losses, and hampered access to education during the community quarantine," said Gatchalian. "Tulong, hindi dagdag na pasanin ang kailangan ng ating mga pribadong paaralan sa panahon ng krisis na kinakaharap natin (Private schools need help, not added burden at this time of the crisis that we are facing now)," Gatchalian said.

Source: Manila Times June 05, 2021 18:11 UTC